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First Look

Afterburner Decals continues to turn out some impressive decal releases covering contemporary US subjects and this latest set is definitely no exception. This release provides the Air Wing Commanders' (CAGs) aircraft for the West Coast Super Hornet squadrons. The CAG aircraft sport the most colorful schemes of contemporary Navy aircraft and this set provides a nice selection of F/A-18E and F/A-18F Super Hornets plus an EA-18G Growler.

The examples presented here include:

F-16CM, 88-0500, 388 FW, 2010, Wing CC's aircraft

F-16CM, 88-0500, 388 FW, 2009, Wing CC's aircraft

F-16CM, 88-0500, 388 FW, 2007/08, Wing CC's aircraft

F-16CG, 88-0500, 388 FW, 2004, Wing CC's aircraft

F-16CM, 88-0145, 388 FW, 2010, Ops Group CC's aircraft

F-16CG, 88-0428, 388 FW, 2007/08, Ops Group CC's aircraft

F-16CG, 88-0428, 388 FW, Balad AB, 2004, Ops Group CC's aircraft

F-16CG, 88-0462, 388 OSS/388 FW, 2003, 388 OSS CC's aircraft

F-16CM, 88-0419, 419 FW, 2008/09, Wing CC's aircraft

F-16CM, 88-0428, 419 FW, 2007, Ops Group CC's aircraft

F-16CM, 88-0457, 388 FW, Viper West show aircraft, 2007/08/10

F-16CM, 88-0521, 388 FW, Viper West show aircraft, 2007/08

F-16CM, 88-0495, 4 FS/388 FW, 2010, Sqn CC's aircraft

F-16CM, 88-0495, 4 FS/388 FW, 2009, Sqn CC's aircraft

F-16CM, 88-0495, 4 FS/388 FW, 2007, Sqn CC's aircraft

F-16CG, 88-0495, 4 FS/388 FW, 2006, Balad AB, Sqn CC's aircraft

F-16CG, 88-0418, 4 FS/388 FW, 2003 Al Udeid AB/2006 Balad AB

F-16CM, 89-2065, 4 FS/388 FW, 2007

F-16CM, 89-2108, 4 FS/388 FW, 2007

F-16DG, 87-0393, 4 FS/388 FW, 2006

F-16CM, 87-0354, 34 FS/388 FW, 2010, Sqn CC's aircraft

F-16CM, 89-2005, 34 FS/388 FW, 2009, Sqn CC's aircraft

F-16CM, 87-0354, 34 FS/388 FW, 2006/07, Sqn CC's aircraft

F-16CG, 87-0354, 34 FS/388 FW, 2003, Sqn CC's aircraft

F-16CM, 88-0437, 34 FS/388 FW, Balad AB, 2008

F-16CG, 88-0437, 34 FS/388 FW, Balad AB, 2005

F-16CM, 89-2090, 34 FS/388 FW, Balad AB, 2007

F-16CG, 89-2090, 34 FS/388 FW, Balad AB, 2005

F-16DG, 87-0391, 34 FS/388 FW, 2006

F-16CM, 88-0421, 421 FS/388 FW, 2009, Sqn CC's aircraft

F-16CM, 88-0421, 421 FS/388 FW, 2008, Sqn CC's aircraft

F-16CM, 88-0447, 421 FS/388 FW, 2007/08, Sqn CC's aircraft

F-16CG, 88-0471, 421 FS/388 FW, 2006, Sqn CC's aircraft

F-16CG, 88-0477, 421 FS/388 FW, Balad AB, 2008

F-16CG, 89-2144, 421 FS/388 FW, Balad AB, 2007

F-16CG, 89-2144, 421 FS/388 FW, Balad AB, 2006

F-16CG, 89-2144, 421 FS/388 FW, Al Udeid AB, 2003

F-16DG, 88-0166, 421 FS/388 FW, 2008

Take a close look at the decal sheet. The sheet is printed by Cartograf and the printing is very well done. What's more, none of these decals require the modeler to stack multiple layers of markings atop one another to recreate artwork. This trend by some other decal companies of producing multiple-layer decals is unfortunate as it puts the burden on you to do the work of what should have been done by the decal maker.

This set provides two complete sets of maintenance stencils and markings to replicate two aircraft, and what a nice selection to choose from! These decals are designed for the Tamiya Vipers though you should be able to adapt these to any Viper kit. Note that you'll need to use the kit air refueling marking from the Hasegawa kit as that kit's air refueling receiver is shaped different than Tamiya's.